Hi strangers,

For the past year or so, I’ve used this app to track my period and other symptoms, because for the last 7 years I’ve had unexplained bleeding that doctors seem to want to convince me is normal. But I know my body and I know it’s not. Hoping anyone here can help. Long story coming...

In 2012, I was spotting randomly mid-month (I think, hard to remember now), and I was (definitely) spotting every time I had sex: during, after, the whole uncomfortable and embarrassing ordeal. I was not on any birth control (had been from 2007-2010 and got off). I went to my doc, did a bunch of tests, turned out I had hypothyroidism. It took a few years to get my dose “right”, but apparently here we are (I still don’t have energy and the next paragraph will explain more).

Because of the spotting, I went back on birth control from 2012-2014 and some time in 2014, I started spotting a few days before my period. This became on average, consistently a week to 9 days before my period and at least once that I can count, 10 days before. The blood is dark and sometimes dryish for lack of a better word.

I still get my week long period. The first day I have cramps like a 14 year old. I ALWAYS have mood swings, and it often manifests as some kind of depressive type feeling where I freak out about the health of my relationship and cause a fight (it’s generally healthy. Until I do that.) or it manifests as anger about a bitchy coworker. I also still get sore boobs and chin pimples. The only difference in my period is it used to be 8 days of heavy bleeding. Now it’s about 2 days and 5-6 days of what I’d call spotting.

To try and figure out wtf is going on, I’ve gone to numerous doctors. One said she thought my progesterone dipped towards the end of my cycle and she wanted me to take replacement hormones (I didn’t. Maybe I will. I’m just sick of pumping hormones in my body). One said I had cervical ectropion (she used silver nitrate to cauterize my cervix and get rid of it). Every other test has come up negative (infections, diseases, cysts, polyps, etc.).

All that said, I’m still spotting and tbh I’m fucking sick of it. It causes me so much underlying constant stress in my day to day life. Worrying if I’m going to spot again, will I ruin sheets or underwear, can I have sex without feeling embarrassed, why am I so emotional etc. etc. etc. (Not to mention, it really drains me of energy and I just generally feel unattractive during this time as well, who the heck would when they’re bleeding half the month.)

I guess I’m here with a few questions:

- can anyone explain what’s going on and tell me what to do

- is this related to my hypothyroidism

- do I have low progesterone

- any suggestions on next steps to make this stop

- should I stop my thyroid meds and try to find a different solution to balancing hormones?

- will this affect my fertility

Would love some help if any of you gracious souls are able to help.

Thank you kindly,

Bloody sick of bleeding